Main menu

2004 BMW X3: Cute Ute: But Is The X3 A Real BMW?

February 29, 2004

When BMW’s new X3 arrived at our doorstep a while back, we weren’t really sure what to expect. Would it be a small, truck-like X5? Or perhaps more a svelte, slick handler, like a tallish 3 Series could potentially be? Just what, exactly?

With a couple of weeks behind the wheel, well, frankly we’re still not sure. Yet it might not matter which it is. It seems America’s SUV appetite—at some 4 million utes a year—will swallow darn near anything.

The X3 went from concept to production in an amazingly short two years, and today X3 is built in Austria (Cover Story, Dec. 8, 2003). After a quick walk-around we can honestly say it is a handsome, properly sized SUV (at 179.7 inches long, it is similar to Mitsubishi’s Outlander) that is only four inches shorter and 600 pounds lighter than its big brother X5.

BMW’s 225-hp, 3.0-liter straight six powered this test vehicle. Regardless of what plat- form it is fitted in, this is one of our favorite engines. It is silky-smooth and has a near-perfect power curve (there is 214 lb-ft of torque). The six puts its power down through a five-speed automatic transmission, though a five-speed manual comes standard. It has an awd system BMW dubs xDrive, developed with Bosch. xDrive sends 60 percent of power to the rear wheels unless it detects slip, at which point it adjusts power to where the X3 needs it, based on road conditions, gear selection and steering wheel input. If necessary, xDrive can deploy 100 percent power to the front or to the rear.

The six is by far the best part of the X3. And the rest? Well...

One of the comments we heard most frequently about the X3 is that it doesn’t feel like a BMW. What do we mean? For example, the doors don’t "thunk" shut, as is the case with all other Bimmers. While there is plenty of room inside, the dash materials as well as materials on the center console and door panels were not up to BMW standards on the test car we drove. It is not an awful environment, thanks mostly to incredibly supportive seats, but it is not what we have enjoyed from BMW for decades.

The driving experience was mixed. The ute felt well balanced, as it should with a 49/52-weight distribution. Turn-in is quick, and thanks to xDrive the X3 doesn’t understeer like so many piggish SUVs. The X3 uses the same suspension as a 3 Series, struts in front and a multilink rear arrangement. The problem with this setup on the X3 is the way it is tuned: Our test vehicle rode too stiffly, bouncing over potholes and road imperfections like a buckboard. A softer setup is needed, which is especially apparent when the X3 is unload-- ed. To that end, even though our test car had about 2000 miles on it, there were already a few squeaks and rattles.

Perhaps the new ute’s biggest problem is that BMW’s own 325xi sportwagon costs $33,000, while the X3 starts at $36,995. The 325xi is a lovely car, and simply a delight to drive. In fact, it is a lot closer to being an Ultimate Driving Machine than is the X3.

Wes Raynal
- Wes Raynal joined Crain Communications’ circulation department while still in college. When he graduated in 1986, he became a reporter for Autoweek sister publication Automotive News. He has worked as Autoweek’s associate editor, news editor, motorsports editor and executive editor before being named editor in 2009.
See more by this author»